English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
1274 words
rename
C1
/ˌriːˈneɪm/
to give a person, place, organization, or thing a new name
evert
C2
/iˈvɝt/
to turn a structure outward or inside out, especially an organ, sac, eyelid, or other body part
crimp
C2
/krɪmp/
to press, pinch, or fold something into small ridges, waves, or tight curls
inhibit
C1
/ɪnˈhɪbɪt/
To slow down or hold back a process or action.
affiliate
C2
/əˈfɪliːˌeɪt/
a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization
allocation
C1
/ˌæl.əˈkæɪ.ʃən/
The process of giving out money, time, or resources for a particular purpose.
misplace
C1
/mɪsˈpleɪs/
To put something somewhere and then forget where it is; to lose temporarily.
triplicate
C2
/ˈtɹɪp.lɪ.kət/
to reproduce threefold
outshine
B2
/aʊtˈʃaɪn/
To be much better or more impressive than someone or something else.
extricate
C1
/ˈɛks.tɹɪ.keɪt/
release from entanglement of difficulty
slaver
C2
/ˈslævər/
to let saliva run from the mouth; to drool or slobber
spurn
C2
/spɝn/
reject with contempt
purposeful
B2
/ˈpɝ.pəs.fəl/
Showing that you know what you want and are determined to get it.
pummel
C2
/ˈpʌməl/
to hit someone or something hard and repeatedly, especially with the fists
emphatic
C2
/ɛmˈfætɪk/
forceful and definite in expression or action
feint
C2
/ˈfeɪnt/
deceive by a mock action
reenact
C1
/ɹi.ɪnækt/
To act out a past event, especially a historical one, in order to show how it happened.
burgeoning
C2
/ˈbɝ.d͡ʒə.nɪŋ/
Growing or developing quickly.
searcher
B1
/ˈsɝtʃɚ/
a person who searches for, investigates, or carefully examines something
beguiling
C1
/bɪˈgaɪlɪŋ/
Charming and attractive in a way that draws you in.
unhelpful
B2
/ʌnˈhɛlpfəl/
Not giving help; not useful.
gruelling
C1
/ˈɡɹu.lɪŋ/
extremely tiring and demanding
singe
C2
/sɪnd͡ʒ/
To burn something slightly on the surface.
constraint
C1
/kənˈstɹæɪnt/
Something that limits or restricts what you can do.
scathing
C1
/ˈskeɪðɪŋ/
Very harsh and severely critical.
interlocking
C2
/ˈɪntɝˌlɑːkɪŋ/
Fitted or joined closely together so that the parts connect.
inaction
C1
/ɪnˈækʃən/
the state of doing nothing, especially a failure to act when action is needed
ravish
C2
/ˈɹæ.vɪʃ/
To fill someone with intense delight; to enchant
duplication
B2
/d(j)u.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
The act of copying something, or of doing the same thing more than once unnecessarily.
functionality
B2
/ˌfəŋkʃəˈnælɪti/
The set of things a product or system can do; its useful features.
inducement
C2
/ɪnˈdusmənt/
Something that encourages or persuades someone to do something; an incentive.
raiser
C2
/ˈɹeɪzɚ/
a person or thing that raises, increases, or brings something up
scrutinize
C1
/ˈskɹutn̩ˌaɪz/
To examine something very carefully and in detail.
reshuffle
C1
/ˌriːˈʃʌf.əl/
to reorganize positions, responsibilities, or elements by distributing them differently
lubricate
B2
/ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/
make slippery or smooth through the application of a lubricant
contrive
C2
/kənˈtɹaɪv/
To manage to do something difficult by being clever or resourceful.
perforation
C1
/ˌpɝːfəˈreɪʃən/
a hole or opening made by piercing through a material or part of the body
echolocation
C2
/ˌɛkoʊloʊˈkeɪʃən/
The use of reflected sound, or echoes, to locate objects, as bats and dolphins do.
overshadow
B2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈʃæd.oʊ/
To make someone or something seem less important by being more impressive or noticeable.
eviscerate
C2
/ɪˈvɪs.əˌreɪt/
to remove the internal organs or entrails from a person or animal
unfurl
C1
/ʌnˈfɝl/
to unroll, unfold, or spread out something that was tightly rolled or folded, or to become spread out in this way
serviceable
C1
/ˈsɝvɪsəbl̩/
intended or able to serve a purpose without elaboration
stoppage
B2
/ˈstɑːpɪdʒ/
a pause or halt in an activity or process
unconvincing
C1
/ˌənkənˈvɪnsɪŋ/
Not believable or persuasive.
sate
C2
/seɪt/
to satisfy an appetite, thirst, curiosity, or desire fully
wrest
C2
/rɛst/
to take something away from someone by force or with determined effort
unbuckle
C2
/ʌnˈbʌkəl/
undo the buckle of
unseal
B2
/ʌnˈsiːl/
to break or remove a seal so that something can be opened
dilly-dally
B2
/ˈdɪl.iˌdæl.i/
informal: to waste time through indecision, delay, or aimless activity
ad-lib
C2
/ˈædˈlɪb/
To say or do something without any preparation; to improvise.
foist
C2
/fɔɪst/
to force an unwanted, inferior, or deceptive thing on someone
procrastination
B1
/pɹoʊˌkɹæs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
The habit of delaying or putting off things you should do.
overstay
B2
/ˌoʊvɝˈsteɪ/
stay too long
allude
C2
/əˈlud/
To refer to something indirectly instead of mentioning it openly.
detract
C2
/dɪˈtrækt/
To make something seem less good or valuable.
edification
C2
/ˌɛdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The act of improving someone morally, intellectually, or spiritually.
inactivity
B2
/ˌɪnækˈtɪvəti/
the state of not acting, moving, working, or operating
optimize
C1
/ˈɑptɪmaɪz/
to make something as effective, efficient, or useful as possible
overburden
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈbɝdən/
to give someone or something more work, weight, debt, or responsibility than can reasonably be carried
adornment
C2
/əˈdɔːnm(ə)nt/
Something added to make a person or thing more attractive; a decoration.
domestication
C1
/dəˌmɛstəˈkeɪʃən/
The act of taming wild animals or adapting plants for human use.
encroach
C2
/ɪnˈkroʊtʃ/
advance beyond the usual limit
pussyfoot
C2
/ˈpʊsiːˈfʊt/
to act timidly or cautiously.
redraw
B2
/ˌriːˈdrɔː/
to draw, map, or design something again, often with changes
dissemination
C2
/dɪˌsɛmɪˈneɪʃən/
The act of spreading information or ideas widely.
magnetically
C1
/mægˈnɛtɪkəli/
In a way that seems to attract irresistibly, as if by a magnet.
vouchsafe
C2
/ˌvʌʊtʃˈseɪf/
to grant in a condescending manner
slosh
C2
/slɑʃ/
spill or splash copiously or clumsily
get-out
C2+
/ˈɡɛtˌaʊt/
US informal, in like all get-out: to an extreme degree or with great speed or force
pressurize
C2
/ˈpɹɛʃəɹaɪz/
To increase the air or gas pressure inside something, or keep it at a fixed level.
vilify
C2
/ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/
to spread negative information about
superimpose
C2
/ˌsuːpərɪmˈpoʊz/
to place one thing over another, especially so that both remain visible or distinguishable
nuzzle
C2
/ˈnʌz(ə)l/
dig out with the snout
formalize
C1
/ˈfɔɹməlaɪz/
to make an arrangement, rule, or process official or definite
unassisted
C1
/ˌənəˈsɪstɪd/
Done without any help from others.
cynically
C1
/ˈsɪnɪkəli/
In a way that shows you expect the worst of people or doubt their honesty.
backslide
C2
/ˈbækˌslaɪd/
to return to a worse condition, habit, or standard after improving
perforate
C1
/ˈpɝːfəreɪt/
to pierce something and make one or more holes through it
relight
A2
/ˌriːˈlaɪt/
to light or kindle something again
repack
B2
/ˌriːˈpæk/
to pack something again or arrange it in different packaging
untangled
C1
No longer knotted or twisted; smooth and free.
loll
C2
/lɑl/
hang loosely or laxly
accustom
B1
/əˈkʌs.təm/
To make yourself or someone get used to something.
uncouple
C2
/ʌnˈkʌpəl/
disconnect or separate
percolate
C2
/ˈpɝkəleɪt/
prepare in a percolator
tantalize
C2
/ˈtæntəlaɪz/
To tease someone by showing or offering something they want but cannot have.
strew
B2
/struː/
to scatter or spread things loosely, often untidily, over a surface
mystify
B2
/ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/
To confuse or puzzle someone completely.
conciliatory
C2
/kənˈsɪl.i.əˌtɔɹ.i/
Intended to end a disagreement and make peace.
lazily
A2
/ˈleɪzɪli/
in a slow, relaxed way, without much effort
attainment
B2
/əˈteɪnmənt/
The act of achieving or reaching something.
mottled
C2
/ˈmɑt əld/
Covered with spots or patches of different colours.
daub
C1
/dɔb/
to spread a thick or sticky substance over a surface, often carelessly
encase
C1
/ɪnˈkeɪs/
to cover, surround, or enclose something completely, especially in a protective material
expropriate
C2
/ɛksˈpɹəʊpɹi.eɪt/
deprive of possessions
geld
C2
/ɡɛld/
cut off the testicles (of male animals such as horses)